Chapter 751: The Setup
Chapter 751: The Setup
Four days passed in the blink of an eye.
Chen Chuan stood alone in front of the tent, gazing into the distance as Chao Ming circled above.
The Sandworm Swarm showed no signs of stopping, still rolling and surging across the land. As far as the eye could see, there was no end in sight, but the presence of a large creature beneath them provided a natural barrier, allowing them to take shelter and rest securely on top of it.
The creature didn't remain stationary but maintained a rhythmic and coordinated movement. As its abdominal legs moved in unison, it gave the impression of a smooth, wave-like motion.
From their current vantage point, the direction of its movement seemed to be heading towards the path Chen Chuan had taken.
Based on what he knew, the Sandworm Swarm would last for about six to seven days at most. Therefore, in a day or two, they would be able to escape this environment.
Chen Chuan didn't mind staying here for a few more days. With the cover of the radiant relic, he had spent these four days, day and night, intensely cultivating. Most of the external matters were left to Xu Chan and the others.
After several days of focused cultivation, he could feel that his spiritual power had made significant progress during this time, and he was now just a step away from reaching the pinnacle of perfection.
Suddenly, a slight tremor in his heart made him look in a particular direction. He didn't know why, but he felt a sense of danger emanating from that place.
That place...
body seemed to be an unconscious manifestation of his heightened spiritual focus. Before he could observe anything, he suddenly sensed a strange feeling from within the tent behind him, as if something there was trying to make its presence known.
His heart stirred, and he immediately lifted the tent flap, returning to the tent. He looked at a backpack hanging there and reached out to touch it. Then, he took out a small green fruit that resembled a tangerine.
This was something Xue Shou had given him before entering the Convergence Zone.
He had always wondered what it was, and Xue Shou had only told him to eat it when he felt the time was right.
The right time?
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment, then peeled the "green tangerine" and ate it, skin and all. At first, he didn't feel anything, but after consuming the entire fruit, he suddenly felt as if his spirit had been touched in some way, and his state seemed to improve significantly.
He immediately sat down on the carpet and entered a state similar to when he had sat on the lotus stone seat in the World Ring, feeling serene and comfortable.
After a while, he sensed something and opened his eyes. Xue Shou was sitting not far from him, smiling as if he were teaching a class.
"Teacher Xue?"
However, Chen Chuan soon realized that although Xue Shou appeared real, there was no shadow on the ground, and he had no temperature or physical presence. He was merely a projection within Chen Chuan's mind.
Xue Shou smiled.
"This small green fruit can enhance your spiritual power, purify the impurities and pollutants in your spirit from absorbing celestial essence, and repair and nurture your spirit and body, making your future cultivation smoother.
It also contains a strand of my spirit. If my spirit senses that the time is approaching, or..."
He pointed at Chen Chuan's heart and said, "If a premonition or warning arises within your spirit, it will prompt you to consume it."
"Premonition... or warning?"
Chen Chuan nodded, recalling the faint sense of danger he had felt a moment ago, though he couldn't pinpoint its source.
Xue Shou looked at the relic placed on the rack beside Chen Chuan and said, "From your expression, it seems you've obtained this relic?"
"Yes," Chen Chuan replied. "We're currently besieged by the Sandworm Swarm, and I plan to retrieve this relic after the swarm dissipates. However, this relic is different from what I've encountered before. It constantly emits radiant light, making it highly conspicuous."
"Of course, it's conspicuous," Xue Shou said with a smile. "This relic was placed here by us."
"Hmm?"
Chen Chuan looked at him in surprise, feeling astonished. He glanced at the relic again, and upon remembering Xue Shou's words, he quickly understood.
"Is this a bait?"
Xue Shou nodded, confirming, "Yes, it is a bait."
Chen Chuan's eyes flickered, knowing that a person of Xue Shou's caliber wouldn't use such bait for the Coalition or the Linax Federation team.
He raised his head and asked, "Teacher Xue, who is the target...?"
Xue Shou stood up from the ground and walked to the entrance of the tent, looking outside. "Our target is Wei Guocan, the Conquering General of the former Imperial Court, who has been stationed in the Convergence Zone of Jinbei Province for many years.
A Tier Three relic appearing deep within the Convergence Zone, especially on the side close to the former Imperial Court's jurisdiction, is something they would never give up. If their people below are unable to obtain it, there's a high chance that the Conquering General himself might take action."
Chen Chuan also stood up and asked, "Doesn't he consider the fighters guarding this place?"
"Master Xue Shou, why are you here?" Chen Chuan asked, surprised by the unexpected visitor.
Xue Shou replied, "I'm here because of the situation in Jinbei Province's Convergence Zone. You see, we've always had only one fighter stationed there, your principal, Yao Zhiyi. He has been protecting the base and rarely engaged in proactive attacks, so even if he left the base, being alone, the threat to him was minimal."
"But what he doesn't know is that we've secretly recalled a fighter who was previously stationed at the World Ring to guard it. This fighter will join Principal Yao in intercepting and ambushing the target."
"And to ensure we cover all possibilities, I'll also enter the Convergence Zone at the right moment to handle any unexpected changes."
"With the World Ring still in disrepair, the Former Imperial Court will never suspect that the fighter guarding it has returned early. After all, even when the Queen Mother split, no one came back. This time, although I've reached Central City, they'll assume I'm here to deal with the fighter from the Corporate Alliance who's staying in Central City."
"In this battle, we will do everything in our power to ambush and eliminate the target. Once Wei Guocan is dead, the Former Imperial Court's frontline army of tens of thousands will lose its pillar. We will immediately counterattack and strive to annihilate this army before the Former Imperial Court can provide support. If we succeed, the situation in Jinbei Province's Convergence Zone will take a decisive turn."
Chen Chuan never imagined that the situation would be like this. The thought of a battle between several fighters was enough to stir his emotions.
Just then, a question came to his mind, and he asked, "Master Xue, does the Jinbei Province Government Hall and the Defense Department know about this?"
Xue Shou turned to him and said, "I know what you're thinking. Let me assure you that due to the highly confidential nature of this matter, no one in Jinbei Province, not the Government Hall, the Defense Department, the Handling Bureau, or the Administration Bureau, was informed beforehand. They will only receive official notification when we take action."
"To ensure the authenticity and feasibility of the initial plan, Jinbei Province has dispatched all personnel vying for the relic. They are prepared for potential sacrifices."
"You should understand that the higher-ups consider not just local losses but also how to maximize gains with minimal losses. As long as the exchange is favorable to the overall situation, they will push forward."
"This is war."
Xue Shou took a deep breath and continued, "But I understand that among those who might sacrifice themselves are your fellow soldiers and friends. I can empathize with your struggle to accept this."
"When I learned that you captured Han Fu, I knew what your next choice would be. You'd undoubtedly choose to enter the Convergence Zone to support them. The outcome might be..." Xue Shou trailed off, gazing at Chen Chuan with a smile, "You've reached that level."
He turned his attention outside, where several tents across the way had people coming and going.
"Those are your fellow soldiers entering the Convergence Zone, right? It seems you've managed to connect with them."
A relieved smile graced his face, but it was tinged with a hint of unspoken melancholy.
Chen Chuan's gaze followed Xue Shou's, and he couldn't help but acknowledge the harsh reality of the situation. The decisions made by those in power often led to sacrifices, as they considered the overall strategy rather than individual lives.
Ordinary people caught in the tide of events had little choice but to go with the flow, unable to make a ripple. If Chen Chuan hadn't come, Old Xu and his team would have undoubtedly been sacrificed.
When the potential sacrifice of dozens could secure a strategic advantage, no higher-up would refuse.
Unless, of course, an individual's power and influence were significant enough to sway the overall strategy.
Xue Shou turned back, "Speaking of which, how did you plan to transport the relic back?"
"Initially," Chen Chuan explained, "I intended to carry it myself and rush back to the nearest base as quickly as possible. The relic's radiance allows for nighttime travel, so I could maintain a certain level of stamina and run day and night. If all goes well, I could return to camp within two days and two nights."
"But I considered that the radiance shows no signs of dissipating, clearly indicating the direction. The Former Imperial Court might intercept me based on my path."
"Your concern is valid," Xue Shou agreed. "According to our previous simulations, regardless of who obtains the relic, the Former Imperial Court will undoubtedly deploy troops. Breaking through their blockade in one go might be challenging."
Chen Chuan nodded; a large army was not to be underestimated. Once their position was confirmed, they could be bombarded with artillery fire, attacked by machine guns from airships, or even besieged by countless transformed creatures.
"The higher-ups initially estimated that the relic would fall into the hands of the Linax Federation or the Corporate Alliance. With their strength, breaking through the blockade would be feasible, and Wei Guocan would appear. But now..." Xue Shou glanced at Chen Chuan, "This challenge might fall to you."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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